The
restored
Levenmouth
Link


in
Fife
was
formally
opened
today
by
First
Minister
John
Swinney.

The
line
to
Cameron
Bridge
and
Leven
has
been
reopened
at
a
cost
of
more
than
£116
million.
Today’s
ceremony
at
Leven
station
was
attended
by
more
than
300
guests,
who
saw
the
First
Minister
unveil
a
plaque.

They
then
travelled
up
the
line
to
Cameron
Bridge
for
a
reception
of
welcome.

Mr
Swinney
said:
‘Many
people
have
long
waited
for
the
return
of
rail
service
to
Levenmouth
and
I
am
delighted
to
be
part
of
the
open
celebrations.

‘The
local
volunteers
from
the
Levenmouth
Rail
Campaign
group
should
be
immensely
proud
of
this
historic
achievement
of
reinstating
rail
connections
for
the
community.

‘This
rail
link
exemplifies
the
Scottish
Government’s
commitment
to
investing
in
our
public
services,
growing
our
economy,
taking
climate
action
and
investing
in
key
areas
that
will
help
eradicate
child
poverty.
By
improving
access
to
leisure,
economic,
employment
and
educational
opportunities,
alongside
improving
the
connectivity
to
and
from
the
area
for
residents,
visitors
and
businesses,
this
rail
link
will
help
transform
the
lives
of
families
and
young
people
in
the
area.’

Levenmouth
Rail
Campaign
chair
Dr
Allen
Armstrong
was
one
of
the
guests.
He
said:
‘All
campaigns
and
their
contexts
differ
but
ten
years
is
a
very
short
time-span
in
the
life
of
any
rail
campaign.

‘The
fact
that
disadvantaged
Levenmouth
–
in
decline
for
over
five
decades
since
mining,
docks
and
railways
closed
and
where
social
capital
and
civic
engagement
is
not
that
strong
–
was
able
to
mount
an
intensive
community-led
campaign
which
played
such
an
important
role
in
achieving
its
main
objective,
well-supported
by
Council
and
elected
representatives,
has
been
a
source
of
both
surprise
and
pride. 

‘Levenmouth
is
back
on
the
map
and
regeneration
prospects
aided
by
other
project
in
the
pipeline
are
brighter
now.’

Today’s
ceremony
marks
the
start
of
celebrations
in
Fife
that
include
a
Council
garden
party
tomorrow
and
a
community
day
on
Saturday.

Passenger
services
will
start
running
on
Sunday
when
the
summer
timetable
comes
into
force.